Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
(Joe 20, 11-18)
At that time, Mary was outside the tomb, crying. As she cried, she leaned over and looked into the tomb. She then saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been placed, one at the head and the other at the feet.
The angels asked: “Woman, why do you cry?” She replied: “They took my Lord and I don’t know where they put him.” Having said this, Mary turned back and saw Jesus standing. But she didn’t know it was Jesus.
Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking it was the gardener, Mary said: “Sir, if it was you who took him, tell me where you put him, and I will come and get him.”
Then Jesus said, “Mary!” She turned around and exclaimed, in Hebrew: “Rabuni” (which means: Master). Jesus said, “Don’t hold me back. I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and say to my brothers: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.” Then Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!”, and told what Jesus had said to him.
In this Easter Octave, we continue meditating on the appearances of the Resurrected One, who appears today to Saint Mary Magdalene.
Although all of Jesus’ appearances to Mary Magdalene are important, this one seems to touch us more deeply, as it highlights something fantastic in the transformation of Magdalene’s heart. According to the Gospel of Saint Lukeshe is the woman from whom Jesus cast seven demons (Lc 8:2), who was a sinner and constantly looked for love in this world. However, upon finding Christ, she became a woman absolutely detached from everything, who is no longer impressed by creatures, not even by angels, because she wants to be all the Lord’s. The apparition we meditate on today shows us this clearly.
Our heart allows itself to be seduced by anything: when we meet a friend, we feel happy; When we hear something new, we are overcome with joy. Mary Magdalene, before meeting Jesus, saw angels, but not even these were able to console her. She says: “They took my Lord, and I don’t know where they put him” (Joe 20, 13). The transformation of this woman’s heart is extraordinary; a heart that we should all desire, detached from everything.
When will we have a heart so holy and so transformed into a burning flame of love for Jesus? When will He truly be the master of our lives? As soon as Mary hears Christ pronouncing his name, she clings to Him never to lose Him again. However, Jesus says: “Do not detain me, I have not yet ascended to the Father”.
In saying this, Jesus is asking Magdalene to live in his presence in another way: through faith, through which Christ is present in our hearts, granting us his grace. Mary Magdalene, therefore, could, in the act of faith, exercise her love for Jesus, whom we are all also called to live.
May we, in this Easter Season, renew our faith in Our Lord and know: He has risen and is always with us spiritually, so that Mary Magdalene can now stop him in the act of faith, just as we can all do.
